Charles g



(No Model.)

0. G. PERKINS.

FUSIBLE GUT-OUT FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

No. 348,048. Patented Aug. 24, 1886'.

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WITNESSES INVENTOR 6.??9995 W I BY MM W 2 ATTORNEY N PETERS.PlmloLHhupnpE-mr, Washing UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES G. PERKINS, OF NE\V YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE IMPERIALELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FUSIBLE CUT-OUT FOR ELECTRIC CIRCUITS.

BPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,048, dated August24, 1886.

Application filed November 25, 1584.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES G. PERKINS, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Fusible Cut- Outsfor Electric Circuits; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will [0enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

The fusible element in that class of electrical devices which are knownas fusible cut-outs is usually lead or some alloy which melts at a lowtemperature. In the use of such cut-outs there is always danger that themetal or alloy, when brought to a molten state in the operation of thedevice, will fall on a substance which ignites at a still lowertomperature, and so cause a fire, which may on tail great loss. Toobviate this danger, alloys have been made which melt at a temperaturebelow the igniting-point of those substances as wood or paper-with whichthe molten globule is most likely to come in con tact. The production ofthese alloys is a matter of considerable difficulty and expense.

My invention consists in surrounding the fusible element with aninelosingsurface of non-combustible material, and in providing areceptacle for the molten globule, which shall retain it in contact withthe non-combustible material until it has become cool.

It also consists in providing convenient means for attaching the fusibleelement to its support, and for making electrical connections throughthe same.

My invention is embodied in a very simple structure, illustrated in theaccompanying 4.0 drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective showingthe two parts of my cut-out before they arejoined into a single device,and Fig. 2 is a section showing the parts united.

The blocks A and A are of some non-combustible insulating material,preferably glass. The block A has secured in it by any suitable meansthe posts B B, which are split at their lower ends. ietween and inelectrical Serial No. 148,786. (No model.)

contact with these posts the fusible strip 0 is supported.

In the drawings the posts 13 B are screwthreaded along their upperportions. The heads of the posts are countersunk in the glasssupport,and nuts (Z cl on the posts below the glass serve both to hold the postsin the same and to keep the strip 0 in electrical contact with theposts.

The block A supports two binding-posts,

H H, each of which is composed of the nut m, the washer n, and thehollow screw 0. WVhen the parts are applied to each other, the splitends of the posts B 13' enter and make spring-contact with the hollowscrew 0, and the circuit is complete from line to bindingpost H, post13, strip 0, post 13, binding-post H, and on to line.

WVith the blocks A A constructed as de scribed, the connecting up of thecircuit through the fusible strip is very simple. It is only necessarythat the block A should be applied to the block A like a cover.

1 construct the blocks A and A of glass or other non-combustibleinsulating material, so that when the safety-strip is fused there willbe no danger of setting fire to the same. In order to insure that themolten matter of the safety-strip shall be retained in cont-act with theglass or other non-combustible substance,

I make recesses or depressions t t in the blocks to receive the moltenglobule.

The safety-strip which I prefer to use is cut away at or near itscenter, so that it shall have at that pointasmaller cross-section thanelsewhere. By this means the point at which the safety-strip shall fuseis predetermined. The point of fusion being known, the recesses ordepressionst it need only be made large enough to surround that point.\Vith ordinary safety-strips the depressions should ex- 0 tend along thewhole length of the same. This becomes of some importance in case it isdesired to make the insulating-block of wood, and to accomplish thespecial results aimed atin this invention by coating the exposedrecessed or 5 depressed portions with a non combustible insulatingmaterial.

It will be observed that the ends of the blocks A are notched to receivetheline-wires. adapted to enter the said binding-posts, sub- Having nowdescribed my invention, what stantially as described. 0 I claim, anddesire to secure by Letters Pat- In testimony whereof I aiiix mysignature ent, ise in presence of two witnesses.

5 The combination, with an insulating-base CHARLES G. PERKINS. carryinghollow binding-posts, of an insulat- Witnesses: i

ing-b1ock supportinga. conducting safety-strip GEO. G. VVILDE,

and provided with split posts, which are GEO. O. GOFFIN.

